Roofless dental plate



July 13,1926. 1,592,054

G. W. TODD ROOFLESS DENTAL PLATE Filed August 24, 1925 Patented July 13, 1926.

onrrsn stares GEORGE W. TODD, OMAHA, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR TO RHENA TODD, F OMAHA,

1,592,054 rarest @FEEQE.

NEBRASKA.

ROOFLESS DENTAL PLATE. 7

Application filed August 24, 1925. Serial No. 52,184.

This invention has reference to a roofless dental plate,'and has for its object, broadly, to provide a plate which will be more sanitary than ordinary, and will permit suction to operate to advantage for maintaining the plate in contact with the soft, upper gum tissue and avoid a rocking movement, said plate to be of such construction that it will be durable, will be susceptible to correction in form and may be conveniently manufactured. One of the specific objects is to provide interior ridges at the edges of the plate which will engage the soft tissue at opposed sides of the gums which, in the use of the plate, prevents air, saliva or food from entering between said plate and the gums. Another specific object is to provide a metallic part for use with a denture base, these parts being of such proportions that the metal will extend somewhat above the base to permit reforming or bending, this being of great advantage in instances where, after lapse of time, the tissues become shrunken.

With the foregoing objects in view the invention presents a novel and useful construction, combination and arrangement of parts as described herein and claimed, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, it being understood that changes in form, size, proportions and minor details may be made found to be of advantage, said changes being determined by the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a roofless dental plate embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse section'on line 44 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on line 55 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the dental plate. Fig. 7 is a sectional view, on line 77 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a side View, partly in section showing the metallic gum-supporting channel.

Referring now to the drawing for a more particular description, numeral 9 indicates the base which operates as a holder for the teeth, and at 10 is indicated a metallic gum supporting channel. The base is preferably constructed of vulcanized rubber, but if desired, porcelain or other material may be used which, by action of heat, will be come firmly connected with. the metallic gum-supporting channel.

Member 10 consists of an attenuated metallic plate or sheet of'approximately U shape in plan and crosssectmn, the surface.

of its depressed parts, of course, corresponding to the shapeand adapted to make suitable contact with the gums of the wearer. It is of such proportion that its outer wall 11 will project above the base and prefer ably will extend somewhat beyond the ends of the U-shaped base. Since the stresses directed to this member will be slight, comparatively thin metal may be used in its construction, said metal however having a quality to permit the parts above the base to be bent, if required, and this is a feature of advantage since shrinkage of the hard and soft tissues often occur, and parts of the walls 11 outwardly of the base may be bent for a suitable contact with the gums without fracture or injury to the base. Also the walls 12 maybe bent, as may be required, for the same purpose.

It is understood that various kinds of materials have been used singly and combined, in the construction of dental plates and that vulcanite bases have heretofore been provided with metallic channels, but the advantages in the use of the present construction will be appreciated since the metallic parts above the base may be reformed and bent without injury to said base, this being a new and useful feature.

The walls 11 of the metallic, gum-supporting channel, near their edges, are preferably provided with ridges a and b, and at 0 are indicated ridges which are provided iii) for the walls 12. These ridges are disposed at the inner sides of said walls and are adapted to engage in the soft tissues of the gums to prevent saliva, air or food from entering between the gums and channel.

It is well known that the comparatively thin edges of a dental plate do not prevent an objectionable movement of particles of food to positions between the plate and roof of the mouth, but in the present instance the ridges prevent a movement of saliva or particles of food to the gums. Also the ridges operate as an aid to suction for maintaining the plate in its normal position since they provide bearing-surfaces of considerable area which have a positive engagement with and are pressed into the soft tissues, and on account of their aid .to suction, the" plate, although with the gums. :5

Roofless plates have been generally desired because, comparatively, they are more sanitary. Also they permit a more free movement of the tongue and ,ofi'er a less impediment to speech and to the sense of taste than others. Theyhave not heretofore gone into extensive use because of the difliculty in maintaining them in a normal position; but by use of the present invention this difiiculty may be overcome. Thile it is true that the rid es as described may be pressed into the soft tissues as an aid tion and to prevent a movement of all substances to the gums, {they do not cause any roofless, will remain in contact to sucdiscomfort to the wearer of the herein described plate.

I claim as my invention, 7 A roofless dental plate comprising a tooth holding .base approximately of iU-shape in plan, and a metallic gum supporting plate providing a channel approximately of U- shape in plan set into and having attenuated, flexible parts projecting above and extending rearwardly of the ends of the base, the degree of flexibility of said plate being such that said projecting and rear- Wardly extending parts ,ivill permit reforming by bending.

In testimony whereof, I have affixed my signature.

GEORGE W. Tonn. 

